Shantha is the pioneer in India for modern biotech products
for human healthcare. Its r-DNA Hepatitis B vaccine, Shanvac-B and Shantetra
(combination of DPT and hep B) are pre-qualified by WHO, Geneva for supplying to
UN agencies. Shanvac-B is the first Indian hepatitis B vaccine to be
pre-qualified by WHO. Shantha caters to major international markets including
Asia-Pacific, Africa, CIS and Latin America in addition to supra nations like
UNICEF and PAHO. Shantha aims to expand its current vaccines portfolio by
launching combination vaccines and new generation vaccines produced indigenously
at its WHO cGMP plant near Hyderabad. Shanvac-B is exported to more than 50
countries. Other novel products developed by Shantha include Shanferon (r-DNA
Human Interferon Alpha 2b) and Shanpoietin (recombinant human Erythropoietin).
Shantha Biotechnics and Merieux Alliance announced a strategic alliance to
create a global R&D hub for prophylactic vaccine research in India. In
association with Shantha Biotechnics, the European company, which has a strong
presence in preventive medicine, aims to develop a global strategy for managing
the infectious diseases segment.

Shantha is conducting exploratory research in the fields of
oncology, infectious diseases and platform technologies. It has also filed an
IND for monoclonal antibodies in the US at the end of last year. By early 2007,
the company has initiated trials on monoclonal antibodies and is working on four
monoclonal antibodies mainly focusing on cancer and genetic disorders. Most of
these would be ready by the end of 2007.

Shantha is also planning to develop a single dose Hepatitis B
vaccine, which will not only reduce the pain but also ensure that the subjects
do not miss the doses, as it happens with the currently available vaccines. It
may take another 2-3 years to launch this vaccine. It is also working on typhoid
conjugate, pneumococcal, cellular pertusis and serum free vaccines for DPT.
Rotavirus vaccine will also be an important part of the company's portfolio,
which is likely to take four years for development.

The company is also planning to develop JE vaccine, vaccine
for varicella-zoster and heat stable vaccines. Shantha has tied up with
Cambridge Biostability, which is a university spin-off company. The company
hopes to be in a position to launch heat stable vaccines in another 2-3 years.

Shantha has expanded its current facilities at Hyderabad by
adding three new blocks including facilities for mammalian cell culture, viral
vaccines and warehouses to stock vaccines. It has opened its new cGMP compliant
state-of-the-art high speed vaccine vial filling sft facility, which will have a
capacity to fill and finish 3,00,000 vials a day. Set up at a cost of Rs 25
crore, this 80,000 sft is part of Shantha Biotechnics' strategic expansion
plans focused on servicing existing and growing market demands for its range of
vaccines. Apart from hepatitis B, DPT-Hep B and tetanus toxoid, the vaccines
under development like Human Pappiloma Virus (HPV) and Rotavirus and the soon to
be launched pentavalent vaccine will be formulated and blended in this new
facility.